CM Bhajan Lal Sharma Launches Pulse Polio Drive in Rajasthan
Synopsis
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the state's National Pulse Polio Day programme on 28 June 2026 at the CM's residence in Jaipur, administering drops to children and releasing the campaign poster, urging all citizens to vaccinate every child under five.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the state-level National Pulse Polio Day programme on 28 June 2026 .
The launch took place at the Chief Minister's residence in Jaipur , where CM Sharma personally administered polio drops to children.
He also released the official poster of the Pulse Polio campaign at the event.
The CM urged all Rajasthan residents to ensure every child from birth to five years receives the oral polio vaccine.
India has been certified polio-free since 2014 ; the annual drive aims to preserve this status.
The campaign uses the long-standing slogan 'do boond zindagi ki' ('two drops of life') to encourage public participation.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the state-level National Pulse Polio Day programme on Sunday, 28 June 2026, by administering polio drops to children at the Chief Minister's residence in Jaipur. He also released the official poster of the immunisation campaign, marking the formal start of the annual drive across the state.
Context
Posting on X, CM Sharma urged all residents of Rajasthan to ensure that every child from birth up to five years of age receives the polio vaccine. Quoting the campaign's long-running slogan, he wrote: 'do boond zindagi ki' ('two drops of life'), calling on citizens to protect their children from the disease. He described the preservation of India's polio-free status as a 'historic achievement' that requires every citizen's participation.
The Chief Minister appealed to the public with a collective resolve: 'Let us all together pledge to keep our little ones safe from polio and ensure our participation in building a healthy Rajasthan.'
Policy Backdrop
India was officially certified polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2014, after recording its last wild poliovirus case in January 2011. The country has since maintained this status through sustained annual Pulse Polio immunisation rounds, which involve the administration of oral polio vaccine (OPV) to all children under five, regardless of prior vaccination history.
The National Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme, run jointly by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and state governments, deploys hundreds of thousands of vaccination booths and mobile teams across the country each year. Rajasthan, given its large rural population and cross-border movement with neighbouring states, has historically been a focus area for the programme. Maintaining high immunisation coverage is considered essential to prevent any re-importation of the virus.
Stakeholders and Impact
The campaign targets all children aged zero to five years in Rajasthan. Health workers, anganwadi functionaries, and ASHA workers are typically mobilised across urban and rural areas to reach children who may be missed at fixed booth sites. The state-level launch by the Chief Minister is intended to signal political commitment and encourage community participation.
Parents and guardians in the state are the primary audience for the campaign's public messaging. By personally administering drops to children at the CM's residence, Sharma reinforced the symbolic importance of the ritual that has been central to India's polio eradication effort for over two decades.
What's Next
Following the state-level launch, district and block-level immunisation rounds are expected to proceed across Rajasthan over the coming days, with mobile vaccination teams covering remote and underserved areas. Continued high coverage in successive rounds will be critical to sustaining the state's and the nation's polio-free record. Health officials will monitor coverage data to identify and address any gaps in reach.
Point of View
Designed to mobilise community trust and boost coverage in a state with significant rural and remote populations. The gesture fits a broader pattern among Indian chief ministers of using high-visibility health events to reinforce governance credibility. With India's polio-free status now over a decade old, the annual ritual has evolved from an emergency measure into a maintenance exercise — but one where any complacency in coverage could carry serious public health consequences. Sharma's appeal to citizens' collective responsibility also reflects the Centre's ongoing push to sustain immunisation momentum through political leadership at the state level.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Pulse Polio Day?
National Pulse Polio Day is an annual immunisation event in India during which oral polio vaccine drops are administered to all children from birth up to five years of age, regardless of their prior vaccination history, to maintain the country's polio-free status.
What did Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma do on Pulse Polio Day 2026?
On 28 June 2026 , CM Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the state-level Pulse Polio programme at the Chief Minister's residence in Jaipur by administering polio drops to children and releasing the official campaign poster.
Which children should receive polio drops during the Pulse Polio campaign?
All children from birth to five years of age should receive two drops of the oral polio vaccine during the campaign, irrespective of whether they have been vaccinated before.
Is India still polio-free?
Yes. India was certified polio-free by the WHO in March 2014 after its last wild poliovirus case was recorded in January 2011 . Annual Pulse Polio rounds are conducted to maintain this status.
What does 'do boond zindagi ki' mean?
'Do boond zindagi ki' is a Hindi phrase meaning 'two drops of life.' It is the long-running slogan of India's Pulse Polio immunisation campaign, referring to the two drops of oral polio vaccine given to young children.
